City Council will save 6 trees

Six Bradford pear trees in Hagerstown's Public Square will remain alongside the younger and smaller locust trees that were supposed to be their replacements, City Council members agreed Tuesday.

According to Public Works Manager Douglas Stull, the six trees in the square were "spared" during the 1998 renovation of the square. But it was expected the trees would be cut down once they began interfering with the growth of the locust trees planted during the renovation.

Earlier this month, Stull told the Mayor and City Council the trees would be cut down soon. Council members Susan Saum-Wicklein and Alfred W. Boyer argued against cutting down the trees and temporarily stopped them from being removed.

Advertisement

In response to the threat to the pear trees, a Washington County woman formed a group to save the trees, which are known for their white blossoms in the spring.

The Mayor and City Council toured Public Square Tuesday to review the situation and decide whether the Bradford pear trees should be taken down.

The consensus among the council members was to leave all the trees as they are.